EHS students lead sheep brain dissection at board meeting

During the Jan. 11 School Board meeting, Eatonville High School Principal Amy Sturdivant presented to the school board directors. The Eatonville High School Culinary Arts students prepared refreshments, as well as a charcuterie board and a variety of pastries, for the board members and audience.

In her presentation to the board, Sturdivant explained the annual goals and the action steps identified in order to reach those goals. Student learning, behavioral and social-emotional data was presented, along with a highlight of student work.

The presentation included:

Brain dissection: Alana Nelson, Jason Campbell, Kevin Johnson and Ava Toulouse, four student scientists who are currently enrolled in the Human Body Systems course, led board members and other volunteers through a dissection of a sheep brain. Students explained the different parts of their brain, including their location and function and highlighted the differences between the human brain and the sheep brain.

The Health Science Pathway is one of 10 CTE pathway options available to students at EHS. The Health Science pathway includes the Biomedical Science course and the Human Body Systems course. Both are full-year courses that give students the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of human anatomy and physiology.

EHS staff encourage each student to engage in a two-year sequence of courses that allow them hands-on experiences in areas that interest them.

The CTE pathways are:

• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Architecture and Construction
• Arts, Technology and Communication
• Business Management and Administration
• Education and Training
• Health Science
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

2022 grad rate: 98.3 percent

The staff at Eatonville High School believe in their K-12 system and do everything in their power to ensure that each student is successful. However, they recognize that a small percentage of students struggle within the traditional system due to life circumstances, individual aptitude or preference. Their goal is to work with each student to be sure they find a pathway to a diploma and beyond. They work closely with students and families to identify and remove barriers within their system throughout all four years. In addition, they have a variety of safety nets for students that continue to struggle, including alternative programs for students that allow them to earn their diploma.

Other highlights:

• Continued training for teachers in best instructional practices, including Open Up math training, Teachers Development Group training for math teachers, Universal Design for Learning for all teachers.

Content area Professional Learning Communities meet weekly to focus on improved instructional practices and problem solving related to student learning.

• Increased academic achievement overall. They are especially proud of the ninth-graders for such a strong start to their high school experience. The most recent data shows that 90 percent of ninth-grade students are passing their math class.